The Method of Reti and Smyslov

The Method of Reti and Smyslov

    name vs name = link

Akopian vs Khalifman  (1999) The amazing c-pawn.

1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.b4 Bg7 4.Bb2 O-O 5.g3 d6

          5...b6  Mikhalchishin vs Golubovic  (1995)
                     Reti vs Capablanca  1-0  (1924)

          5...c6  Taimanov vs Gligoric  ½  (1962)
                     Aronian vs Yandemirov  0-1  (2000)
                     Matulovic vs Ivkov  ½  (1967)
                     Emma vs Najdorf  0-1  (1973)

          5...d5  Vokac vs Pribyl  1-0  (1996)
                     Nikolaidis vs Katsenos  1-0  (1993)
                     Reti vs Pokorny  1-0  (1923)

6.Bg2 e5 7.d3

Smyslov vs Gufeld  1-0  (1961)
Smyslov vs Boleslavsky  ½  (1962)

7...Nh5  continue Akopian vs Khalifman

Return to Following Smyslov and Reti Menu

Ah, I see.  I avoid possible Symmetrical English setups like the plague, but I sometimes transpose to setups like this out of early b4 openings.  If I know I won't be getting like 1nf3 nf6 2c4 c5, it sounds more appealing.

I know what you mean about the Symmetrical English. It just takes all the fun out of playing the Reti. But I would rather try to improve my SymE than give up playing 2.c4.

So do you even go 1nf3 c5 2c4?  SymE is certainly respectable and effective, but I tend to look for earlier imbalances.  I usually play 2b3 to 1...c5, for example, and save c4 as a pawnbreak later on.  Maybe that should be my answer for 1...nf6, too, or maybe I should just suck it up and get used to the Symmetrical English!

If 1.Nf3 c5 I would probably play 2.e4 and set-up a King's Indian Attack. But 2.b3 is also good.

The books that I have suggest that if 1. Nf3, c5 then 2.g3,  instead of 2 e4. and build to a KIA position.   If 2. e4, then you are inviting entry into the Sicilian and I'm not sure you want that.

Sorry, I should have made myself more clear that I would play it that way because that is what I am familiar with at my current level of experience. I had expected dc to reply and then I would explain.

In the KIA group we play against the Sicilian all the time. I was also being somewhat facitious about not wanting to play the Symmetrical English.

Sorry to leave you hanging!  I didn't really need a roadmap to get to the Sicilian from there, lol.  I've been working on my English lately, so I'm feeling better about that.  I think in the end, I still like 2b3, but I'll give c4 a shot for a while.  For me, I like the queenside fianchetto more than the kingside, so KIA is something I use sparingly--and I would delay e4 if I chose to play it.